WTC Goa Hosts awareness Seminar on ‘IPR’

Intellectual property (IP) battles a plethora of challenges in the modern world and this mandates awareness amongst the stakeholders, entrepreneurs, IP practitioners and teachers who play an active role in IP regime. Upholding the motto, a daylong Seminar on “Intellectual Property Rights” was organized by World Trade Centre Goa and MSME – Development Institute, Ministry of MSME Government of India, Margao, Goa in association with Verna Industries Association on 30th January 2018. The programme was also supported by V.M.Salgaocar College of Law (VMSCL), Miramar, Goa. Mr. G.R.Akadas, Director of MSME-DI delivered the welcome address and highlighted the importance of understanding the important aspects of IPR.Chief Guest Mr. Nitin Kunkolienkar, President MAIT (Manufacturers Association for Information Technology) and Director (Member of the Board) Synegra EMS Ltd. in his key note address said that “It is Indians who should take pride in building their country. For development of the nation, innovation has to sustain, which warrants protecting national assets by laying strong edifice of IPR regime” Guest of Honor Prof. Dr. M.R.K. Prasad, Principal of VMSCL expressed his concern over the need to value individual rights and stated that “IPR in near future will equally be an area of growth so also of litigation. On one side there is no law to protect trade secrets where as on the other side despite there being law, film industry and software companies are entangled with piracy disputes”. The first technical session speaker was Prof. Dr. T. Ramakrishna, IPR Chair, National Law School of India University, Bangalore who spoke on the ‘Issues and challenges under Patent Act’. He raised thought provoking concept across the forum as to whether “there can be securitization of Intellectual property rights”. He expressed his urge that “Unlike other states IPR centre is very much needed in Goa as people are ignorant of these inalienable rights and it requires urgent protection from being misappropriated”. Mentioning that “Ideas cannot be copyrighted but have to be manifested into a concrete form” said Dr. Shaber Ali, Co-coordinator PG and Research Centre (VMSCL). He further dealt with ‘Challenges and Issues under Copyright Act’. He opined that “Copyright is a legal right created by the law of a country that grants the creator of an original work exclusive rights for its use and distribution. There are many loopholes in the IP law in India that give liberty to the infringer to escape the rigors of law and this is clearly reflected through the IP conflicts before the courts of law”. The technical sessions received overwhelming response from the audience and were very interactive. Mr. Cyril Desouza, Asst. Director – Trade Promotion, WTC (Goa) assured Prof Ramakrishna of all the cooperation and assistance required to facilitate proposed setting up of IPR Centre in Goa, he further invited the audience to participate in the forthcoming international event ‘The Global Economic Summit 2018’ which is supported by MSME ministry. Mr. Shashi Kumar, Asst. Director (IMT), MSME Development Institute, in his vote of Thanks urged the forum to accept the monetary aid provided by the Government of India to the MSMEs for IPR related issues and encouraged them to promote and protect their IP rights.